Enomoto claims the checkup results were a convenient lie, and that Space Adventures had never had permission to offer the spacewalk but demanded another $10 million from him for the privelege anyway. He also alleges that Ansari basically bought her way ahead of him in line by making an "investment," which he was also pestered to do. Space Adventures's attorney John Villa says the company will not be offering a refund, and that's that. Sounds like a typical tourist package shakedown, frankly — wonder how much they'll take Ultima creator Richard Garriott and Google cofounder Sergey Brin for between now and liftoff?

The papers report it as a celebrity trial (the New York Times compares it to O.J.). Livedoor stock is plummeting, other Livedoor execs pleaded guilty of fraud, Horiemon dropped out of a Parliament race, and one of his aides committed suicide on a hotel bed this winter.

Such fame, such consequence, at age 33! What a young achiever!

Trial Begins for an Icon in Japan [NY Times]
Japan's pushy internet king denies fraud charges [The Age]